When Bogdan Radivojevic failed for the first time after five goals scored very convincingly from the right wing and slapped his forehead with his hand in disbelief, it was clear that it would be Joel Birlehm’s evening. In this phase, the goalkeeper of the German national handball team could no longer be defeated by the Serbian attackers; the next attempt by the Serbs was also thwarted by the 25-year-old goalkeeper of the Rhein-Neckar Löwen, this time Nemanja Ilic failed from the seven-meter point, it was also his only failed attempt, before that he had also converted five times very safely.
Twelve minutes were still to be played at this point and Birlehm urgently needed to make one save after the other. Because the Serbs were 30:32 behind and were trying to turn the game around. Also because the German attacking game, which had worked so well for 50 minutes, now faltered. But Birlehm stood in the way of the Serbs’ efforts like a 1.96 meter tall rock. In the end, the goalkeeper saved a narrow 34:33 victory over time, which not only promoted the selection of the German Handball Federation (DHB) early into the main round of the Handball World Championship in Poland and Sweden, but also gave them the optimal score of four points secures.
It was Birlehm’s first big appearance in these world title fights, the man from Mannheim was nominated as number two behind Andreas Wolff by national coach Alfred Gislason. He was accordingly modest after his introduction: he was initially surprised that he was even called up to the squad, he said after the game, but “I’ve been mentally and physically preparing for it since January 2nd”. He can already “very clearly assess” his role as German number two. And the next time he’s needed, “I’ll try to do it again and help the team. I’m not a dream dancer.”
Before the World Cup, coach Gislason had criticized the second suit, now he is proud of the breadth of the squad
This is how someone speaks who does not formulate any claims and sees himself as part of the collective. That is probably the greatest quality of this squad, that everyone in the team is subordinate to the big goal, which to date is to reach the quarterfinals. And Birlehm has now played his part in ensuring that the prospects could not be better. Captain Johannes Golla, who, as always, worked tirelessly in defense and contributed five goals to the win, put it this way: “It’s great how the team stands together, how we push and support each other. Even if you see the emotions that follow successful campaigns come from the bank.” No matter who comes on the field, he “always has the feeling that everyone throws everything in, that makes me extremely proud”.
After the defeat in preparation against Iceland, national coach Gislason had complained that the second suit didn’t fit. And that probably set the right incentive. Now he stated: “We showed a really strong game today and also played very, very well in general.”
In fact, no matter which player he ordered onto the floor, everyone knew how to convince. Like Christoph Steinert, the veteran Kai Häfner relieved in the right backcourt and scored three times himself. Once even with a Kempa goal worth seeing when he caught a pass from the brilliant left winger Lukas Mertens in the air and sank it. Mertens was the most conspicuous player in attack, the Magdeburg player scored with each of his seven attempts against the Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Cupara, whom Gislason also counts among the world’s best keepers at outside throws.
Or Jannik Kohlbacher, who occasionally played for Golla on the circle and did first-class work, also scored clean on his four shots. Or Julian Köster, who posed problems for the strong Serbian attack as a defender in the offensive 3-2-1 variant and scored three goals in a row in the hard-fought final phase. In addition, playmaker Juri Knorr is now consistently at the top international level, even if he now and then takes a little too much risk in directing his team’s game.
17 goals conceded – the DHB selection rarely concedes that many in one half
In this way, the German selection always stayed ahead in a tight, sometimes breathtakingly fast game, only the defensive work in the first round was in need of improvement, Gislason was mildly critical afterwards. On the one hand, this was due to the strong and agile Serbian attackers, most of whom earn their money in top international clubs. An open exchange of blows developed, with Germany leading 19:17 at the break. The DHB selection rarely concedes so many goals, even though Wolff parried by no means badly. But the Serbian attackers were too often able to finish free, which is why Gislason tried a few variations: offensive coverage, defensive 6-0 defense – and then Birlehm between the posts.
The coach interpreted his performance as an important signal to the team: “In the beginning he was a bit nervous, but Joel was very important in the closing stages. We now know that we have two very good goalkeepers,” said Gislason. After the game, team manager Oliver Roggisch approached Birlehm and held the sign for the “Player of the Match” under his nose, which team-mate Johannes Golla had actually received. Birlehm just smiled.